pleased to be here today, and thank you for inviting me so soon after your inauguration. i am delighted to be able to congratulate you on what was a stunning election victory. as you say, the invitation is an indication of the strengthen importance of the special relationship that exist between our two countries, a relationship based on the bonds of history, family, kingship, and common interest. >> washington journal continues. host: joining us is nina-maria potts, who is feature news story editor. welcome to washington journal. --what kindy news of organization is that? guest: we are a television and radio and broadcast agency headquartered in washington d.c. i am ahead -- i am the head of news and we have 17 euros globally in the report for lots

of different networks around the world and sash around the world. -- report for lots of different news stations and networks around the world. the prime minister of britain, theresa may, becomes donald trump's very first visitor as president. the is the significance of british prime minister meeting with president trump first out of the chute? guest: for the brits, it was important. for theresa may, it was risky. she is under a great deal of domestic scrutiny, pressure. she could not appear to be too craven and to desperate for a trader with the united states as britain moves -- departs from the european union. it is looking to build and forge global trade deals bilateral deals. it was little that it was a little risky.

obama at the time of the brexit referendum board brexit voters not to turn it back on european union because that could compromise to trade agreement with the u.s. he warned britain that they could find themselves in the back of the line by becoming the first foreign leader to me president trump, theresa may largely succeeded ensuring that britain seems to be right at the front of the line. host: given what has happened with u.s.-mexico relations, it seemed he idea of a trade agreement between the u.s. and britain becomes even more important to both nations. with the u.k. on the verge of brexit. guest: the optics for theresa may are very promising, and the president of mexico canceled his visit. he is not the one standing side-by-side the new president of the united states. and theresa may succeeded in being the first in.

the logistics of negotiating a u.k.-u.s. trade to our complicated because as a european union has forewarned britain, it has no real legal right to start negotiating on its own until it has actually left the european union. host: our guest is nina-maria potts talking about the visit of theresa may and the relationship between the u.s. and the u.k. under a trump administration. democrats call 202-748-8000. republicans call 202-748-8001 and independent and all others call 202-748-8002. you can also send us a tweet as well. who initiated this meeting? guest: i think the british have been trying very hard to get in touch, or make contact with the advisors of donald trump.

it is something that has been perplexing a lot of foreign governments partly because nobody expected donald trump to win. foreignpresident obama, delegations -- did not spend that much time on the campaign trail cultivating relations with the trump campaign. everyone was caught on the back foot. the british were very keen to were right upey in front. allyeel as if they have an in donald trump partly because he supports brexit and theresa may has clearly and decided that brexit and an exit from the european union is the right thing to do. host: was it not that long ago that the house of commons was debating whether to ban donald trump before he was elected president during his presidential race to been donald trump on the u.k. question mark guest: he was deeply unpopular.

that is why this trip for theresa may was a bit of a gamble. if you read the british press this morning, that campbell largely paid off. there is a little bit of ridiculing. it they picked up on a moment where donald trump, the president, held hands with theresa may as they were walking through the gardens of the white house. there is a certain degree of mockery. for europeans, but they were given the opportunity to cultivate an american president in a test tube, donald trump would not be it. host: the prime minister coming ahead of today, the president has a full lineup of phone calls to world leaders. this is a rundown for today alone -- he started 9:00 this morning: the prime minister of japan. then tesla angela merkel of germany at 11:00 -- then chancellor angela merkel of germany at 11:00. then vladimir putin at noon. and then the president of france

this afternoon with more executive orders to beside this afternoon. what are the differences between president trump and theresa may? guest: there are significant points of difference. theresa may was keen to stress those points for the brits. it is very important to try to contain the russian aggression when she addressed the gop leadership in philadelphia. she was keen to talk about the british deployment. the fact that president trump said explicitly in his press conference yesterday alongside theresa may that he would see how the phone call of vladimir putin would go and that a special relationship with russia is not inconceivable. is slightly overshadowed theresa may's stress on the special relationship. a special relationship with russia is not one she wants to

see. host: we have calls waiting for nina-maria potts. good morning. caller: good morning. host: you are on the air. go ahead. caller: i have a problem with donald trump. britain and all the other states that need help, well i think people need to go to the white house. he is bipolar. he is a degenerate. he flip-flops. he has a problem and he don't need to be in that white house because he hasn't paid his tax. donald trump of the wrongness of the white house. another thing about donald trump he can go and do what he wants to do, but we can't do what we want to do. it is bad for the trade in the united states of america. americaaken jobs from

that, you know what i am saying, it is just hard. donald trump does not need to be on that white house. host: you touched on he is deeply unpopular in the u.k. britain has its own issues with refugees, doesn't it? guest: the question of whether or not you can discriminate against refugees and immigrants on the basis of religion, it is strictly banned under european union law. there am -- there are countries like bulgaria if of a that have tried -- their countries like bulgaria that say they prefer christians. trump's of donald legitimacy, the question of the democratic mandate is an interesting one. she herself is unelected. she inherited the leadership of the u.k. from david cameron

after he was forced to resign post brexit. the perception in britain is she cannotthe scene -- she be seen to become donald trump's best friend in case he records her problems on the mandate, and perhaps legal problems in relation to conflict of interest. there is a slight morning and the british -- there is a slight morning and the british soul that she should not be too close to him. plus, there are concerns that she may emerge as a kind of anglo-saxon, postcolonial do well. she is to position herself very careful between angela merkel, .e has criticized over refugees she has to sit my sense heavy in the middle. host: ed is on the independent life in california. caller: good morning. my name is said. -- my name is ed. i am glad to see england is

going to get involved. if we get out of nafta and decide to do a free trade agreement with canada and england, how do you feel about adding australia and new zealand and that free trade zone? -- amonges among life economies are fine, but it was opportunistsonomic that were treasonous to this country. they are the ones who pushed for nafta and all that. as far as donald trump is concerned, while i am not ,iberal, i am anti-conservative i do not own a gun, so i do not care about the second amendment. i do not care about the abortion issue, but i support donald trump 100% because he is one to do what nobody else was willing to do. host: all right, ed. shat were the trade agreement shaping up to be? guest

guest: it is a little too early to tell. all, the brits cannot easily talk about former negotiations. these are all informal discussions. it,e is the politics of warning heavily of any sort of concrete attempt to elicit a trade deal from the united states on the question of a global attitude, or trying to seek bilateral trade relationships with australia and new zealand and other countries. may has stressed that she once a global britain. that britain will be chasing bilateral at global relationships around the world, which is different perhaps from president trump's projection of the more isolationist/protectionist america. america and america first.

britain is looking for a global america. here is a look at her comment yesterday. we are united in a recognition of nato as our collective defense. the reaffirmed our unshakable commitment to this alliance. says, you are 100% behind nato. natoe are supportive of equipped to fight cyber warfare and conventional forms of war. and i will continue my efforts to support my fellow european leaders to deliver on their commitments to spend 2% of their gdp on defense so the burden is fairly shared. we can ensure we are properly equipped to face our challenges together. host: prime minister turning to the president saying, you were

100% behind nato, and he has expressed great concern over nato. guest: this is a public outing a president trump by theresa may. some would argue it was a pretty genius maneuver. what was interesting about that press conference was president trump did not follow up that revelation that he was 100% nato.- 100% behind no longer forking out money that the european allies have in failing to pay into the pot. moment whens a theresa may turned to him and said, you know, you are 100% behind nato. he did not follow up. and he did not mention it again. but she was also careful to point to agreement that both britain and america in terms of public opinion, are a little bit fed up of really having to carry the weight of nato and a great deal of emphasis on trying to

get european allies to play their part. u.s.-u.k.ing about relations of the truck administration. we go to lexington, kentucky. good morning, napoleon. democrat's line. caller: good morning. is we gotike to say to wait and not give president trump so much credit about what he is doing. until he gets his business -- which hefar as recognized. -- l we get that straight [indiscernible] fervor inhere equal the u.k., or concern for admittance of muslims to the u.k.? guest: certainly on the right

there is. immigration was one of the day talking points around the brisket --, the brexit referendum. there is a cultural difference in the u.k. the muslim population in the u.k. mix of 4.5%. there are 2 million muslims living in the u.k.. that is lower in france and germany. host: but a high percentage in the u.s.? guest: that is correct. the anti-immigration debate was prompted by the freedom of movement in the european union, and concerns about polish workers and eastern europeans coming to take british jobs. perhaps more in line with american concerns over mexico and central americans taking american jobs. but really, it has never been so acute, this sense that it was anti-muslim, or anti-islamic. there are concerns about homegrown terrorism, and theresa may made that point with donald

trump. but it is not quite the same fear on the basis of religion in terms of immigration. host: our guest is nina-maria potts who is news coverage director for feature story news on twitter. here is pennsylvania, jack on the independent line. caller: good morning, sir. ms. potts, i have a question and then a comment. passed theent is not law to make brexit in reality. do you think yesterday was strengthened --do you think yesterday strengthen the people popularization for that? and as far as russia goes, perhaps we should limit the border to the atheists of russia because russia has a high atheist content? thank you. tost: i can certainly speed brexit. this is the first time an american president has

essentially sent a signal to the brits at the european union that he does not care whether or not the european union stays together or not. though he has given his support and put his weight behind britain's exit from the european union, i think support in the u.k. for brexit has not died and has not diminished. there is a sense that this is inevitable. exit to start,e something called article 50 needs to be triggered. theresa may indicated that that would happen by march. it will be a two-year process, but it is the first time any country has left the european union. technically, nobody actually knows. britain positive relationship with the west, if you can think of it in terms of like a divorce, what the european has said to britain essentially is, show me what the divorce settlement will be.

summing with the deal will be before you start talking about married someone else. we cover a lot of british comments and debate on the c-span network, tell us what that debate is like? the brexit referendum passed, but parliament gets a say? guest: yes, and the supreme court is ruled that the parliament should have a say. theresa may has done is try to a deal with the opposition that they will not move against brexit. there is a good sense in the u.k. that brexit has won. that this was a referendum put to the people. it was a direct and single question that the british people unequivocally. few lawmakers in the u.k. who would go against the vote of the people. the political will is simply not there to try and unpick the referendum. host: maranda from south

carolina, republican line during caller: yes, good morning. c-spanwanted to thank for all of the educational information they bring us. i enjoy all of the shows. talking about british and u.s. relationships. for twoant to say strong leaders that are already talking about developing a new relationship, it is a good thing for america. and the u.k. that is all i want to say. host: thank you, miranda. how have relationships been between president obama and theresa may? guest: president obama was clearly against any move by the u.k. to leave. he took it probably as a blow that david cameron effectively lost his job over the brexit referendum.

the point of your caller just now, that hardship at 20 u.k. -- that partnership between the u.k. and the u.s. is seen as suspicious by members of the european union. in the german press, there is absolutely or, not just at the top administration, but the idea that the u.k. is aligning itself with the united states so closely. certainly on the business front, german industry, although it is very slow and has been very reluctant to criticize u.s. policy, there is a kind of sense of disbelief and the outgoing german foreign minister recently made comments to the german press where he said he could not believe that we had reached a moment where it was up to the french and the chinese to advocate for globalization to the american public. host: there is a report of financial times -- theresa may place iron lady card at

president trump's top table. she went to arlington national cemetery to lay a wreath and spoke about the special relationship. >> prime minister, you talked about you would be frank were you disagree with the president. can you tell us where in our talks you did disagree, and you think the president listened to what you had to say? and mr. president, -- [laughter] let's see what she says. after president, you said before torture works and you praised russia and said you wanted to dance a muslims from coming to america. he said there should be punishment for abortion. britain, thate in sounds like a lemming believes. what you say to our viewers at home who are worried about some of your views, and worried about you becoming the leader of the free world? pres. trump: this was your choice of a question?

[laughter] theresa may: on the issue that you raised of my concerns. listening to the president and the president has been listening to me. that is the point of having a conversation and a dialogue. we hope that this will carry on after this press conference. there will be times where we will disagree. the point of the special relationship is that we are able to have open discussion. we are able to make that clear when it happens. but i am clear also that there are many issues on which the united kingdom and the united states stand alongside one another. many issues on which we agree. host: do you think the president and prime minister had that frank conversation on the first visit? guest: probably not very substantive. president trump in addressing

gop leaders in philadelphia the day before has said, i do not have a rumpus. -- a compass. i will be discussing the u.s.-u.k. trade alone, that must've sent shockwaves across the atlantic because we hope to get something substantive out of donald trump. he has not gotten his team quite in place. there are significant points of difference. going back to the u.s.-u.k. trader, there are deep concerns. certainly, the europeans are no the europeans are concerned about chlorinated chicken. there are worries on the left the theresa may will come under pressure under donald come to open up the health market. there are america for-profit hospitals waiting for contracts in the british public health system. there are sticking points in the u.s. point of view. if we remember the mad cow

syndrome -- there are certain issues that will take some time to iron out and resolve. on the question of russia and differences on sanctions, theresa may certainly -- she needed to speak to her audience back in the u.k. and needed to shebsolutely clear that believes in ongoing sections against russia whatever the president of the united states me sacred host: dr. calls, -- back to calls we go to new jersey. caller: good morning. i am very, very happy. i would like to say a few things that have a lot to do with what is going on. in america, before trump came on with, we were faced joblessness and difficulty. i am a business major. i have a phd in international

business. exacty this in an adult point, the american market has to do with technology. it is going so fast that in fact, we need measures to place a that aspect in order to control technology against taking over the jobs from the industries. england, when trump is talking about nafta, talking about free trade agreement, this is very technical. he knows what is happening globally. theresa may have to be very careful about what she is playing with because it will backfire and a blowout in england because england is a country which has to do with its own problem in your. host: tony, thank you for your call. guest: on the question of

technology being the real culprit, i think free-trade advocates would certainly agree with you. that technology has not really had enough of the limelight. and the question over jobs and the economy, it was interesting that wilbur ross pointed to technology as one of the biggest issues, the single biggest issue that america faces in terms of job losses, and how this administration -- and how does this administration address that? in terms of the technicalities of negotiating free-trade deals and bilateral trade deals, as i say, this is going to be a fairly long out process. but the blessing of the american president, who even said it yesterday's press conference at exit is a blessing. -- conference that brings it is a blessing -- that -- conference that brexit is a blessing.

host: ll right we'll let you go. thanks for being with us this morning. guest: thank you for having me on. host: headline this morning in the "washington post" on republicans' meeting in philadelphia. their headline, g.o.p. lawmakers fret over repeal of obamacare. little guidance from the president and recording revealing talks behind a close door meeting being reported by the "washington post" and the "new york times." this week on nakesnakes we talk to senator bill cassidy. senator cassidy behind one of the new proposals that's been quoted to replace the affordable care act, doctor an member of the u.s. senate. obviously talked this week on "newsmakers" about his proposals and the future of ealth care in the u.s.

>> i'm curious if you could talk about any conversations you've had and whether you expect the tone to change. >> several things because you asked several things. i've spoken to five or six or seven democratic senators at length. and i have other appointments set up. we are actively reaching out. this is not a republican plan. it is not a democratic plan. i want it to be about that woman, economically vulnerable, with breast cancer, who cannot afford her $6,000 obamacare deductible. it should be an american plan. chuck schumer criticized it saying things which were not true before he read the bill. i know it was before he read the bill because we had not yet introduced it. so i think he as a partisan -- the noirlt leader -- is trying to crack the whip, telling his

senators that you listen to me even if this is an attractive bill. that is what is the worst thing about washington, d.c. i am first a physician and way after that i am a partisan politician. this is about patients. and if they have a better idea about how we can improve this bill, we are so totally open. totally open. the fact that before someone reads it they are telling his membership not to endorse is what's wrong with this debate. now, i would just say mr. schumer we looked it up, individual marketplace rates are going up 16.6% in new york. that's double digit. if if you're ok with that and new york wants to keep it, keep it. why should you force one of your democratic senators in a